Iftificellaneattc
The Oxford bigots have met with another disappointment. Agree- ably to the summons of the scrupulous pluralist and non-resident par- son of Corpus, Mr. Vaughan Thomas, a host of orthodox worthies (including the Orange Lord Kenyon and Mr. Arthur Trevor) assem- bled on Tuesday, to "deal damnation" on the heretic Dr. Hampden. Previously to the meeting of Convocation, an effort was made to induce the Proctors of the University to permit the discussion of the question, which it was understood they had resolved to interdict, by virtue of their unquestionable authority; but, as it turned out, these gentlemen had too much regard for the credit of the University to give way. About 400 Masters of Arts attended the meeting ; the Doctors on the raised semicircle, the Masters in the pit, the Under-Graduates in the gallery. The Vice- Chancellor directed the "statute," a motion of censure on Dr. Hampden, to be read ; and then invited discussion in the accustomed words —" Ecquis sentelitiam vulgo proferre vult?" Whereupon Vaughan Thomas delivered a speech in "Middle-age Latin," with the voice of a Stentor,—to the effect that all religion would be overthrown if the Procuratorial veto were interposed to pre- vent a vote of Convocation on the question of Dr. Hampden's ortho- doxy. Much clapping followed this harangue; and then an orator, not over-learned, commenced a speech by saying—" Mr. Vice-Chancellor, I trust that we shall have no modern Liberalism or Whiggery here, and that"—Here the speaker was told that be must hold forth in Latin, or not at all ; so he was silenced effectually. The Vice- Cheat- cellor then put the question, first to the Doctors, " Placetne vobis, Domini I fuctores ? " and the answer of the majority was, " Placet." Then came the important query, " 151seetne vobis, Magistri ?" At these words, the two Proctors rose, amidst the hissing, groaning, and yelling of the orthodox, and tittered words, said to have been unheard in Oxford for centuries — " Nobis Procuratoribus non placet." The Vice-Chancellor and the Heads of Houses immediately left the Theatre in the midst of a tremendous row ; and thus the decent exhibi- tion terminated.
The Standard pretends that Lord Melbourne assured Dr. Longley of Harrow, in order to induce that gentleman to accept the new bishopric of Ripon, (which, no doubt, " went-a-begging,") that the Appropriation clause would be left out of the new Irish Tithe Bill. The Courier flatly denies that Lord Melbourne ever wrote such a let- ter. The Standard courteously replies, that if the Courier's authority for the denial is only Lord Melbourne's word, it is worth nothing ; and asks for Dr. Longley's denial. The Courier fairly rejoins, that at rests with the Standard to prove that the letter was sent to Dr. Long- ley. The fact, we believe, is, that the whole story is a Conservative lie.
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